Package of sticky cement and method of making the same.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW THOMA, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THOMA CORPORATION,

. OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

PACKAGE STICKY CEMENT AND EETHOD OF MAKING THE SAME.

- the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawmgs, is a specification.

My present invention has for its object the accomplishment of the parceling of a cement such as described in my Patent N 0. 855,868,

,so as to'produce a package having the various packaging advantages explained in my Patent No. 862,360.

To meet the present-day conditions prevailing in shoe factories, 'I aim to provide a package of cement which shall be self-sustaining so that it maybe kept exposed in quantity ready either for future or instant use without suffering deterioration in quality or being encumbered by its envelop when put to use. Also, as a cement of the kind in question is exceedingly tacky and sticky, and hence cannot be handled conveniently I either with the hands or otherwise, my in-' vention provides'means whereby this tenaciouslysticky substance may be handled in package form with impunity.

In carrying-out my invention I provide the cement with a coating surface preferably of soa y-like substance which temporarily neutra izes or offsets the native stickiness of the cement so that the mass may be readily grasped by the hand without any danger of having .the latter contaminated by the sticky cement notwithstanding the sligh heating effect of the warm hand. Mymvention includes the provision of a surface coatin'g'on .the mass or package .of cement which may be readily dissolvedor spread over the surface of the cement by water or other readily available solventso as to form during the necessary momentary handling .of the cement an intervenin filmlike coating between the hand and t e ce ment :itself, and which coating either washes off .or abecomes incorporated into the cement without injury'to .the latter as the latter is melted for use.

. in its morecomplete-embodimen-t, my invention embraces within its scope also the provision broadly of a jacket or wrapper having a .film like coating or dining .of matter Specification of Letters Patent.

. Application filed Kay 6, 1908. serial'No. 481,246.

' Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

soluble as above stated but normally dry .or approximately dry, said film-like coating separating the wrapper proper from the cement, and normally forming as well a binding medium maintaining the wrapper in place as a practical envelop to maintain the cement in package form. I consider the provision of this soluble coating or covering as new, irrespective of whether it produces a slimy or saponaceous effectin solution. or not.

M inyention is not limited to cement.

I ave succeeded in providing an envelopin wrapper which greatly facilitates the-parce ing or packaging of this exceedingly sticky material which is otherwise so diflicult to manage, and yet, my wrapper being ofsuch a nature that its use does not interfere in any way with the ordinary factory requirements, but is exceedingly simple and expeditious and facilitates the use of the cement, rather than hindering said use. rolls of ordinary wrapping paper, preferably of a very porous nature, thin and rather tender, and spread upon one side of the same a thick coating of liquefied soa Common ordinary soap scrap may be use for the base, treated in boilin 'water to a thick solution which when app ied to the paper still in its heated condition allows itsel to spread readily upon the surface of the aper, and then upon cooling and drying orn1,'s a perfect overlaying film. The wrappingpaper thus treated is cut into the required shape to-be formed into paper bags of convenient size to receive the cement. held by any suitable means, as by a frame or rack like igeon-holes, from which the o .mouthed ags protrude in desired num ers.

Into these bags or molds the cement ,is poured hot and permitted to cool, whereupon the mouths of t 0 ba s are folded down, and the package is comp ete. It will be under-' stood that the coated sideof the paper :forms the inner side of the bag. The soap itself 18 100 suflicient to stick the sheets to ether in bag form when properly folded, an hence there is no foreign substance between the paper and the cement excepting solely the sa ceous layer. J intendtorestrict myself technically. to soap,

bu-tiintend to include all substances andcompounds capable of providing a slip eriy.,-readily soluble coating or surface for t e urpose which I will now further describe.

I take sheets or These bags maybe By saponaceous layer 1 0 .11 1? ecomsaponaceous or slimy coating,

paratively thick, sluggishly flowin cement sets'rather quickly so that it is sti enough to stand alone. Thus enveloped my cement may be kept in a convenient place in the factory handy to the operator who, when about ready to use it, places one or more bars or packages into a pail of water (or other solvent according to the nature of the coating used) to soak the wra per for a few minutes. Upon withdrawing t e cement parcel from the bath of solvent, it Will be found that the softened soap will allow the prompt removal of the paper envelop, leaving the bar or package of clear cement covered with a slimy coating permitting it to be handled readily without its sticking to the hands. The slimy condition of the soap prevents for the moment its adhesion to the hand.

I prefer to use commercial soap as the base of my coating, but I have found it advantageous to add to it a small amount of mucilage or mucilaginous matter to increase its adhesiveness, thereby facilitating the making of the bags and packaging of the same. As already stated, however, I do not limit my invention in all cases to the rovision of a ut intend to include anybarrier between the outside fabric covering (preferably paper) capable of'disintegratin or becoming solvent when subjected to a ath of solvent non-injurious to the. cement. A barrier capable of becoming slimy is preferable, because it more readily prevents the cement sticking to the fingers, and enables the operator to handle the ocment with more impunity than when the barrier or coatin is not of a slippery character and wet. I a so wish it understood that the principle contained in my present invention can be attained in various ways.

The soapy or slimy coating is preferably soap with a surplus of alkali (or other well known agent rendering it specially soluble in a wet bath), paste (or any e uivalent mucilaginous matter), silicates o soda or otash, or. any other substance readily solub e in 1 water, but also includessubstainces soluble in other chemicals or treated liquids, as resinates, casein, caseinate s, etc.'which are solu: ble in alkali, lime compounded with glue or other binders, soluble in alkaline water, and various acids, such as tartaric acid (which may take the place of the alkali in the coat,-

ing or in the bath). The range is exceedingly broad, and I intend to includehaving the dissolving agent either present in the flour, starch, or dextrin will not onl increase cia y when liquid soap is emplloyed', '60. I

coating itself or in the liquid bath or in both. To i've a greater body-to the coatin' es ead to it soapstone, or'talc, etc. ave found also ,an1a dition of-farinaceous'matter, such as a the consistency of the coating but a so change its-nature so -that it makes abetter binding agent for the seams of they paper parce Likewise the addition of mucilaginous gums or well known combinations of fish glue or ments, it is possible to make the outside paper coverin slough off more or less like pulp, and w enever tougherpaper or other fabric is employed for the outside envelop it usually peels off as a sheet.

A further feature of my invention'relates to cements or similar masses capable of assuming package sha e and remaining for a time more or lessstic y, in which case, after the mass has been shaped, as for example by myprocess above set forth, the supporting wrapper is removed leaving the .block of cement intact and set whereupon a nonsticky coating is applied, of material which is readily removable or is not objectionable to becoming subsequently, incorporated into and used with the cement when the latter is softened and applied. For instance a light coatin of farinaceous' pas e, or of pulverized ta 0, may be used, or a thin skin of gelatin or any other non-sticky substance capable of melting down or disappearing when the cement is melted, or capable of being washed oil before the cement is used. In other words, this feature of my invention includes the-provision of a separating coating or of a non-sticky surface between adjacent packages of the cement, capable of entire removal from the'cement package without in jury thereto'or of becoming incorporated in the cement without injury thereto.

While my .invention is primarily intended for cement, and more particularly for cement of the character first mentioned, it will be understood that I am not limited in this respect, as my invention is advantageous for packing other materials difficult to handle and to free from ordinary inclosure.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: a g

1. A package of normally substantially solid stic y cement, rendered externally nonsticky and handable and packable by having an external thin readily soluble coating capable of becoming slimy whensoftened.

2. package of normally substantially solid material, having a thin readily soluble consistency and normally apt to stick to adjacent objects, provided with means to prevent said sticking, including an exterior coating of normally substantially dry material'capable of becoming quickly slimy in the presence of a solvent.

5. A cement package, consisting of a body of cement of substantially self-sustaining consistency, and normally apt to stick to adjacent objects, provided with means to prevent said sticking, including an exterior coating of normally substantially dry material capable of becoming quickly slimy in the presence of water.

6. A cement package, consisting of a body of normally substantially solid cement, provided with a thin coating of soapy material.

7. A cement package, consisting of a body of cement enveloped with a fabric wrapper united to said cement by an intervening barrier readily soluble without disturbing the cement.

8. A cement package, consisting of a body of cement enveloped with a fabric wrapper united to said cement by an intervening barrier readily soluble in water without disturbing the cement.

9. A cement package, consisting of a body of cement enveloped with a fabrlc wrapper united to said cement by an intervening barrier of soapy material.

10. A cement package, consisting of a body of cement enveloped with porous paper united to said cement y an intervening barrier of soapy material.

11. A package of substantially self-sustaining sticky cement, having'a non-sticky, soluble outer layer, .renderin the package capable of being readily hand ed.

12. A cement package, consisting of a substantially self-sustaining body of sticky cement, having a non-sticky outer surface protector capable of being eliminated as such from the cement without injury to the latter.

13. A cement package, consisting of a substantially self-sustaining body of sticky cement, having a non-sticky outer surface coating acting to protect the package from stickmg to adjacent packages or objects, and capable of entering into and passing along wlth the cement'in use without materially interfering with the efficiency of the cement.

14. The method, consisting of providing a package-forming mold with areadily soluble two subscribing witnesses.

coating capable of being subsequently dissolved without interfering. with the cement package, and then introducing liquid cement and permitting the same to set into substantially self-sustaining package-form.

15. The method, consisting of providing a package-forming mold with a readily soluble coating capable of being subsequently dissolved without interfering with the cement package, then introducing liquid cement and permitting the same to set into substantially self-sustaining package-form, and then separating the mold from the package by dissolving the intervening. soluble coating, thereby leaving the block of cement intact in package form. I

16. The method, consisting of providing a package-forming mold with a readily soluble coating capable of being subsequently dissolved without interfering with the cement package, thenintroducing liquid cement and permitting the same to set into substantially self-sustaining package-form, then separating the mold from the package by dissolving the intervenin soluble coating, thereby leaving the bloc of cement intact in package form, and finally covering said block of cement with a light coating of non-sticky material.

17. The method, consisting of providin a package-forming mold with a readily soluble coating capable of being subsequently dissolved without interfering with the cement package, then introducing liquid cement and permitting the same to set. into substantially self-sustaining package-form, then separating the mold from the package by dissolving, the intervenin solu le coating, leaving the bloc of cement intact in ackage form, and finally covering said bloc of cement with a light coating of non-sticky material having such substance and condition as to be capable of entering into and-passing along with the cement in use without materially interfering with the efliciencyof the cement.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of ANDREW THOMA.

Witnesses:

M. J. SPALDING,

EDWARD MAXWELI...

thereby 

